Steel Dynasty - Chapter 233

[Chapter 233 Complex Situation]

The artillery training ground was filled with the smell of gunpowder, and mud pits caused by artillery shells could be seen everywhere.

Zhao Yuanliang glanced at the artillery that was basically invisible 400 steps away, and then at the clay sculpture that fell to the ground, and was extremely shocked.

He could already imagine how this extremely powerful artillery killed dozens of charging cavalry in one shot during the Battle of Cangzhou.

“Yuanliang, you have seen the effect. You should know better than me whether it is worth 20,000 taels of silver. I am not making fun of the black armor cavalry. Four hundred cavalry are really not as good as my artillery.” Xiao Ming deliberately Stimulate Zhao Yuanliang.

Zhao Yuanliang was silent for a long time and said: “Your Highness, this artillery is really powerful for no reason, but the price of this artillery is too high. Can it be less?”

“There is nothing I can do about it.” Xiao Ming shook his head with a firm attitude. “I can’t do business at a loss. What’s more, even the court is not willing to give this artillery, let alone other vassals. Don’t think that I don’t know that you are preventing my father from sending troops to support Qingzhou. Today I am willing to sell artillery to you. It’s already righteous.”

When doing business, it is natural to first raise the price and then slowly lower the price. As the saying goes, it is better to buy than to sell. The truth is that buyers never know where the seller’s profit bottom line is.

Xiao Ming suddenly changed his face, which made Zhao Yuanliang a little embarrassed. He coughed and said, “Your Highness has misunderstood. We really have nothing to do with this matter. This is all caused by those courtiers.”

The purpose of bringing up the old accounts is to raise the issue .

Price, no matter how much Xiao Ming hated people like King Zhao, he didn’t want to have trouble with Yinzi at this time.

He said: “Then I have the right to trust Yuan Liang. The price can be lower. I wonder how much you want to purchase this time?”

Zhao Yuanliang looked at Zhao Kuan at this time, and saw Zhao Kuan secretly holding out two fingers. head.

He said: “Twenty artillery pieces.”

“So few?”

Xiao Ming frowned. He looked at Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan, and saw that they looked a little strange.

He sneered secretly in his heart. He understood clearly that King Zhao was probably planning to imitate the artillery. Otherwise, he would not only purchase 20 artillery pieces. For the Liangzhou front line, at least 300 artillery pieces were needed.

“Originally, if the quantity was large enough, I could sell it to you for fifteen thousand taels per door. Since it is twenty doors, it is really not cost-effective. Twenty thousand cannot be less.”

After that, Xiao Ming turned around and left. .

Nowadays, he is the only one who owns artillery, whether he likes it or not.

After Xiao Ming walked away, Zhao Yuanliang said to Zhao Kuan: “You are really confident that you can imitate this artillery.”

“Your Highness, I was not sure at first, but now after seeing the appearance of this artillery, I feel somewhat confident. , We have already mastered the technology of producing fire barrels. This artillery is just thicker and longer. When the first batch of artillery arrives, we will let the craftsmen produce it like this.” Zhao Kuan said.

“Well, okay, where’s the armor?” Zhao Yuanliang asked.

The reason why he brought Zhao Kuan here this time was because Zhao Kuan had an excellent memory and could remember things very quickly.

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty, everything is fine.” Zhao Kuan said.

Nodding, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan followed Xiao Ming back to the palace and agreed to purchase twenty artillery pieces at a price of twenty thousand taels each.

“Then pick up the goods in Qingzhou in two months.” Xiao Ming said.

No matter how small a mosquito is, it’s still meat. With twenty cannons and 400,000 taels of silver, he made a net profit of more than 300,000 taels of silver. This was the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly income.

With this silver, we can build two more Galenic ships.

During this period, the construction of Galen ships seemed to be quiet, but in fact, the Galen ships were the real spenders.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zhao Yuanliang said, “In that case, we will not disturb Your Highness.”

After saying that, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan turned around and left the main hall.

Looking at the backs of the two of them, Xiao Ming looked thoughtful, and then he sent someone to call Li San over.

“Li San, you sent people to keep an eye on Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan. I suspect that they have bad intentions, especially the Equipment Department and Military Workshop. They must be kept under observation. In addition, who did he come into contact with in Qingzhou City? You must also report to me in detail.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Li San said solemnly: “The number of businessmen traveling to and from Qingzhou has increased suddenly. I have kept the secret guards on guard and discovered that some people are just pretending to be businessmen. In the name of this, he is actually spying. It seems that this artillery technology has been stared at by many people. “

“It would be strange for these people not to use some tricks behind their backs. If they can get this artillery technology for nothing, why would they spend money to ask for it. I am purchasing artillery,” Xiao Ming said.

After the artillery became famous in Chang’an, he knew that there would be many more spies in Qingzhou City.

One of the purposes of these spies was for artillery skills, and the other was to monitor him. Among the spies sent out were other vassal kings, princes, and even his cheap father Xiao Wenxuan.

Xiao Wenxuan was indeed very happy about this battle in Cangzhou, but as a decisive emperor, he would also be wary of Xiao Ming at this time.

Li San nodded, “Your Highness, if that’s the case, why not arrest all the sneaky people.”

“No.” Xiao Ming said, “These spies came to Qingzhou in the name of businessmen. If they act so recklessly, I’m afraid someone will take the opportunity to spread rumors, which will have an impact on Qingzhou’s business. You must not do anything without solid evidence.”

“Yes.” Li San nodded.

…

In the Wei Family Restaurant in Qingzhou City, Zhao Yuanliang and Zhao Kuan asked for two upper rooms and then went upstairs. The guards who followed them guarded the door of the room.

Entering the room, Zhao Yuanliang suddenly slapped the table hard, “This King Qi is really bullying people. My aunt sent news that the emperor accidentally let it slip that the artillery sold to the Forbidden Army was only 8,000 taels a piece, but he sold it for two.” If the door is sold to us, do you think we are fools?”

“Your Majesty, please calm down, this is the territory of King Qi, and there must be no eyes and ears of King Qi in this inn.” Zhao Kuan said.

Zhao Yuanliang snorted coldly, “This time my father told us to do everything possible to obtain artillery technology. What do you think we should do?”

“Your Highness, don’t be anxious. There are many businessmen from Zhao in Qingzhou, and some of them are your father. Your Highness, do you remember that before entering Qingzhou, I asked Your Highness to enter Qingzhou two days later?”

“Of course you remember.”

“Hehe, I have contacted them outside the city. A workshop will be prepared for us. Then the craftsmen from Zhao will come over and secretly imitate the artillery in Qingzhou. At the same time, our people will try to bribe the craftsmen of the Qingzhou Equipment Department. If successful, they will try to produce it in the workshop. It succeeded. These craftsmen will return to Zhao. What do you think, Your Highness?”

(End of Chapter)